I’m going striper fishing for the first time… what bait is good for striped bass?

Well, for my money, there is nothing better than the natural bait found in the areas in which you will be fishing. Live bunker, hickory shad, eel, fresh bunker, mackerel, anchovies, pile worms, and fresh clams just can not be beat when it comes to enticing striped bass to take your bait. Still, we all know the disadvantages of fresh bait, and if you prefer lures and artificial baits, you can make the most of all the advantages they hold over natural bait by using the any of the following effective lures and artificial baits. Any Finnish minnow type lure will work well when fishing for striper. It is by far the most consistent lure you can buy. Anything like a Rapala Finnish Minnow, Mambo Minnow, Bomber, Rebel Yo-Zuri, or Red Fin. My absolute favorites out of that list are Mambo Minnows and Yo-Zuris. The action seems a little more realistic to me, and the hooks are high quality. It really makes a difference. Consider using a teaser with these lures when you are fishing for striper. Other good lures for catching striper include 2 ounce Gibbs Casting Swimmers and 3.5 ounce Gibbs Danny Swimmers. Just be sure that you use the right sized rods and reels with these though, because a standard medium action rod in the usual eight foot length just will not allow you to work them properly, and casting them right will be problematic as well unless you use the recommended sizes of rods and reels. These lures will work especially well if you are fishing for striper at night, and they work great if you are fishing strong current or rough water, so if you are fishing for striper at night or under these conditions, I recommend these lures as your best bets.